Clutch.



C. W. PRADEAU.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED oo'rxl. 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. W. PRADEAU.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0017,1907.

902,999. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- CLUTCH.

Specification-nf Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application tiled October 7, 1907. Serial No. 396,807.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WILLIAM PRADEAU, a subject of the King of England, residing at 1 Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, in' the county of London, En land, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements in Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable ot ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved clutch applicable to engines and other purposes.

This invention has reference -to that class of clutches in which a drum is connected to the driving shaft and in the interior of which is placed two similar segmental pieces, so placed that their ends come equidistant from the diametrical line. In the space between the ends of the se mental pieces are tted cams, preferably o oval form. These cams are so fitted that when they are in one position the segmental ieces shall be forced tightly against the si es of the drum so as to form a frictional clutch and rotate the said pieces and consequently the mechanism connected therewith.

Accor ling to this invention the axes of the cams are in the same lane as the axis of the shaft and at right ang es thereto. When the earns are in another osition the drum will be free to work round t e said segmental ieces, these remaining stationary. The sai cams are actuated by means of a foot lever or otherwise accordin to the pur oses for which the clutch is emp oyed. An in order that my said invention may be understood I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawing accompanying this specication, which shows my invention as applied to the en ine of a motor car.

Pi ure 1 shows a sectional elevation of the clutc Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a section throu h the line A, B, Iig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a detai hereinafter referred to.

The same letters of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the views.

a shows a drum, which may be bolted to the fly wheel of the engine by means of the flanges b.

c are segmental pieces laced loosely in the drum a leaving a space d etween the ends of such segmental pieces in diametrical positions...

e shows cams fitted in the spaces d. The cams e are mounted on or formed with spindlesf, the axes of which are at right angles to the axis of the shaft n working in bearings g. To the spindles f are secured the arms h. The ends of these arms h are pivoted together through a link piece t', which link )ieee 'i is pivoted at its other end to an arm fixed to or formed with a sleeve m mounted loosely on a shaft n. To the top of this shaft n is keyed a disk o bearing on the top of the segmental pieces c. Round the sleeve m is adjustably fixed a collar p having a groove out round same. In this groove are placed two semicircular ieces q having at their extremities half a bo t as shown in detail at Fig. 4, so that when they are in position a complete bolt is formed at each side of the ieces q. Over the ends of the bolts is passed) an arm r secured in position by means of a nut s. This arm 1' forms one end of a cantaliver pivoted at t and at the other end is provided a foot plate u.

fo shows a spiral compression spring placed on the shaft n held in position at one end by means of the sleeve m and the other end by means of a nut w.

The action is as follows: mechanism to be in the clutched position as shown at Fig. 1, it is retained in this position by means of the s ring o. Upon depressing the foot plate u t e lever r is drawn downwards brin ing with it the sleeve m and consequently t e arm c, which being connected to the arms h by means of the link t causes the cams to turn in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, thus taking 0H the pressure on the ends of the segmental ieces c and likewise the friction between t e interior of the drum a and such segmental pieces, thus stoping the rotation of the shaft n. Upon reeasing the ressure on the plate u the clutch is brought ack to its normal position.

If it 1s desired to adjust the pressure of the spring o, owing to the wear on the cams or ends of the segmental pieces, this can be done by means of the nut w.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States of America, 1s:-

1. In a friction clutch the combination of a hollow drum, a driving shaft, segmental prieces mounted on said shaft, and adapted to ictionally en age the interior of sai drum, cams provide with spindles extending at right-angles to the axis of the shaft, said camsbeingjocated between said segmental Supposing the pieces, bearings for said s indles, arms se cured to said spindles, a l' piece pivoted to said arms, an arm to which said link piece is pivoted, a sleeve rigid with said last mentioned arm, a collar adjustably fixed to said sleeve, said collar provided with a goove, semicircular pieces q provided with ha bolts at each extremity fitting said roove, eausin said half bolts to form comp ete bolts, an means fitting said complete bolts, adapted to move the same up and down, substantially as described.

2. In a friction clutch the combination of a hollow drum, a driving shaft, segmental pieces munted on said shaft, and ada ted to ictionally engage the interior of sai drum, cams provided with spindles extending at right-angles to the axis of the shaft, said cams being located between said segmental pieces, bearings for said s indles, arms secured to said spindles, a 1in piece pivoted to said arms, an arm to which said link piece is pivoted, a sleeve rigid with said last mentioned arm, a collar adjstably xed to said sleeve, said collar` provided with' a oove, semicircular pieces q provided with ha f bolts at each extremity fitting said groove, causing said half bolts to form complete bolts, an arm r secured to said com lete'bolts, a lever connected to said arm an a foot plate rigid with said lever, substantiall as described.

In testimony whereof, I a my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES WILLIAM PRADEAU.

Witnesses:

LILY SIMMoNns, A. BRoWNE. 

